Ohio Company Cited For Worker Safety Violations For Third Time
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Sign Source USA for violating workers' safety guidelines at its manufacturing plant in Lima, Ohio, and the company could face $46,970 in fines.
Sign Source was cited for similar problems in 2006 and 2012, but inspectors found the same safety hazards after another inspection last year.
If you have been seriously injured by hazardous chemicals on the job, you may be able to file a workers' compensation lawsuit to get the maximum compensation for your injuries. Contact the experienced workers' compensation lawyers at O'Connor, Acciani & Levy to discuss your legal options.
Inspectors found that Sign Source was not doing enough to protect employees from hazardous chemicals, including:
- Leaving rags soaked with flammable liquids in work areas when the rags should be removed every day.
- Not providing medical evaluations and training to ensure safety around respiratory and chemical hazards.
- Failing to label flammable containers of paint thinner.
Sign Source has to improve its health programs to show that it takes worker health seriously, according to the OSHA area director in Toledo.
Chemical Hazards In The Workplace
Some chemicals in the workplace can be toxic and potentially cause employees to suffer from reproductive problems, neurological effects, asthma, skin irritation and immune system problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Employees can come into contact with these chemicals by breathing them in, through food or drink, or by getting chemicals on their skin. Once chemicals get into the lungs or the blood they can get transmitted throughout the body.
OSHA has strict guidelines for preventing employees from being exposed to hazardous chemicals. For example, employers have to have labels and safety data sheets for workers who are exposed to chemicals.
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